All three candidates in today’s Fine Gael presidential selection convention are talking up their prospects. But what are we to make of Big Phil Hogan having his photograph taken outside Leinster House on Thursday with presidential hopeful Pat Cox?
“Well, the cat is out of the bag now,” smirked a Fine Gael backbencher. Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan, the party fixer, does nothing without a reason.
Cox is said to be the favourite of Fine Gael headquarters, but such a recommendation would be a red rag to a large section of the parliamentary party. He sent a brief video message on Thursday evening to all members of the party’s electoral college, appealing for their support. It was recorded in the National Convention Centre and features a very presidential-looking Cox standing against a backdrop of the capital.
Seasoned Fine Gael watchers say the amount of spin in the run-up to today’s convention makes it impossible to call a winner. “If the tribal nature of the party kicks in, that would help Mitchell and McGuinness,” says one.
Meanwhile, Minister of State Alan Kelly, of Labour, was surprised when Pat Cox wrote to him seeking support for his candidature. Kelly, a former MEP for Munster, says the letter was personally signed by Cox, and addressed to “Minister Alan Kelly” at his department.
A spokesperson for the presidential hopeful was reported as saying that the letter was intended for the Fine Gael councillor Alan O’Kelly and was sent in error to the Minister for Public and Commuter Transport. But how could this be, as the same councillor O’Kelly received his own letter from the Cox campaign, correctly addressed?
Alan received his billet-doux from Pat on Wednesday night, just as Denis Naughten was voting himself out of the Fine Gael parliamentary party over the Roscommon County Hospital issue. Upon hearing of the letter, one Fine Gael deputy remarked: “We may have lost a TD, but we’ve gained a Minister.”
Minister of State Kelly says he won’t be able to make today’s selection convention in Dublin, even though Pat wrote that he was looking forward to meeting him there.
“But I wish Pat all the best, although I’m very upset that Gay Mitchell and Mairead McGuinness, two of my former colleagues in the European Parliament, haven’t been in touch. This could ruin our friendship,” says a highly amused Kelly, adding that “whoever wins will come second to Michael D”.